Compressed packaged articles and methods of making, transporting, shipping and using same

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates, in general, to articles that are packaged in a compressed state relative to an uncompressed fully articulated state and methods of making and using same. In a specific embodiment, but not to be considered as limiting, the articles so packaged in a compressed state are plant covers that are either substantially rigid and/or substantially flexible.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No. 11/100,205, filedApr. 6, 2005, now abandoned; which claims priority under 35 U.S.C.119(e) to provisional patent application U.S. Ser. No. 60/644,544, filedon Jan. 18, 2005. The entire contents of each of the above-referencedpatents and patent applications are hereby expressly incorporated hereinby reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to articles that are packagedin a compressed state relative to an uncompressed fully articulatedstate and methods of making and using same. In a specific embodiment,but not to be considered as limiting, the articles so packaged in acompressed state are plant covers.

2. Description of the Background

Flower pot covers, including plant covers, and methods of making andusing same are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182, the entire contentsof which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. In theU.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182 patent it is disclosed that the flower potcovers could be flattened and packaged for shipment and storing. Thedisclosed methods in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,182 patent requiredflattening each cover individually before packing and storing. The costof packaging such flattened flower pot covers with each cover beingseparately flattened is greater than using a fully erected flower potcover because substantial mechanical or manual labor is required toflatten, open and erect each cover separately.

In order to alleviate such deficiencies, the presently claimed anddisclosed invention provides the packaging, storing and shipping ofplant covers (more specifically, flower pot covers, floral groupingcovers, sleeves, bags, and tubes) at higher density levels therebyproviding for the efficient and economical packaging, storing andshipping of plant covers without substantially affecting the decorativeproperties of the plant covers. The presently claimed methods entail, inone embodiment, the placing of one plant cover inside of another plantcover (i.e., nesting the plant covers) so as to form a stack of two ormore plant covers and thereafter compressing the entire stack of plantcovers in either or both of the horizontal and vertical planes (i.e.,along the height, length and/or width of the plant covers). Compressingthe nested plant covers so as too partially or completely flatten thecovers horizontally and/or vertically provides for a means of packing,storing and/or shipping plant covers in an efficient and economicalmanner.

By first nesting the plant covers and then compressing them, solely orprimarily horizontally, the plant covers are made more easily useablethan if the covers are individually flattened and then packed forshipping. The primary reason for this is that all of the covers can bere-erected to their full or semi-full three-dimensional shape with onemotion of pressing horizontally on two opposing sides of the stack ofnested covers so as to restore the covers to their fully erected form.This saves considerable time as opposed to erecting each individualcover, as is required if each cover has been individually flattened. Anyremaining oval shape due to the plant covers being compressed areeliminated when the covers have been placed about a flower pot or placedabout a floral grouping.

These and other methods and apparatuses are disclosed and claimed hereinand will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art given thedescription, drawings and claims provided herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed and claimed invention is drawn to a packagecontaining a plurality of compressed articles, wherein the compressedarticles are in a state substantially compressed from a fullyarticulated state. The package may further include a holding assemblyhaving a retaining space, wherein the plurality of compressed articlesare located within the retaining space. The package may also includemeans for securing the holding assembly in the state substantiallycompressed from a fully articulated state. The securing means may beselected from the group consisting of telescoping cartons, bags, shrinkwrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives, staples, wire,ribbons, string, barbs and combinations thereof. The package may alsoinclude means for dispensing at least one of the compressed articlesfrom the package containing the plurality of compressed articles.

The compressed articles in the state substantially compressed from thefully articulated state are compressed to a percentage of the fullyarticulated state selected from the group consisting of from about 5 toabout 10 percent, from about 10 to about 15 percent, from about 15 toabout 20 percent, from about 20 to about 25 percent, from about 25 toabout 30 percent, from about 30 to about 35 percent, from about 35 toabout 40 percent, from about 40 to about 45 percent, from about 45 toabout 50 percent, from about 50 to about 55 percent, from about 55 toabout 60 percent, from about 60 to about 65 percent, from about 65 toabout 70 percent, from about 70 to about 75 percent, from about 75 toabout 80 percent, from about 80 to about 85 percent, from about 85 toabout 90 percent, from about 90 to about 95 percent and from about 95 toabout 99 percent.

The compressed articles in the package may be nested or unnested and, inone embodiment, the compressed articles are plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for packaging a plurality of nested plantcovers utilizing the following steps: (a) providing a plurality ofnested plant covers having a length and a width; (b) providing a holdingassembly having a retaining space, the holding assembly having acompressed and an uncompressed condition; (c) placing the plurality ofnested plant covers in the retaining space of the holding assembly; and(d) compressing the holding assembly from the uncompressed to thecompressed condition such that the plurality of nested plant covers arecompressed along at least one of the length and width of the pluralityof nested plant covers thereby providing a package containing aplurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In this embodiment, the holding assembly is selected from the groupconsisting of bags, boxes, tubes, at least one sheet of material andcombinations thereof. This method may further include the step ofsecuring the holding assembly via a means for securing such that theplurality of nested plant covers are maintained in the compressedcondition. The securing means may be selected from the group consistingof telescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape,adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs andcombinations thereof. In this embodiment, the nested plant covers in thecompressed condition are compressed to a percentage of the uncompressedcondition selected from the group consisting of from about 5 to about 10percent, from about 10 to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20percent, from about 20 to about 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30percent, from about 30 to about 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40percent, from about 40 to about 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50percent, from about 50 to about 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60percent, from about 60 to about 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70percent, from about 70 to about 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80percent, from about 80 to about 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90percent, from about 90 to about 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99percent.

The method may also include the step of providing a means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested plant covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for packaging a plurality of plant covers,comprising the steps of (a) providing a plurality of plant covers havinga length and a width; (b) providing a holding assembly having aretaining space, the holding assembly having a compressed and anuncompressed condition; (c) placing the plurality of plant covers in theretaining space of the holding assembly; and (d) compressing the holdingassembly from the uncompressed to the compressed condition such that theplurality of plant covers are compressed along at least one of thelength and width of the plurality of plant covers thereby providing apackage containing a plurality of compressed plant covers.

In this embodiment, the holding assembly is selected from the groupconsisting of bags, boxes, tubes, at least one sheet of material andcombinations thereof. This method may further include the step ofsecuring the holding assembly via a means for securing such that theplurality of nested plant covers are maintained in the compressedcondition. The securing means may be selected from the group consistingof telescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape,adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs andcombinations thereof. In this embodiment, the nested plant covers in thecompressed condition are compressed to a percentage of the uncompressedcondition selected from the group consisting of from about 5 to about 10percent, from about 10 to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20percent, from about 20 to about 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30percent, from about 30 to about 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40percent, from about 40 to about 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50percent, from about 50 to about 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60percent, from about 60 to about 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70percent, from about 70 to about 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80percent, from about 80 to about 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90percent, from about 90 to about 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99percent.

The method may also include the step of providing a means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested plant covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for packaging a plurality of plant covers,comprising the steps of (a) providing a plurality of plant covers havinga length and a width; (b) compressing the plurality of plant covers froman uncompressed condition to a compressed condition such that theplurality of plant covers are compressed along at least one of thelength and width of the plurality of plant covers; (c) providing aholding assembly having a retaining space; and (d) placing the pluralityof plant covers in the compressed condition in the retaining space ofthe holding assembly thereby providing a package containing a pluralityof compressed plant covers.

In this embodiment, the holding assembly is selected from the groupconsisting of bags, boxes, tubes, at least one sheet of material andcombinations thereof. This method may further include the step ofsecuring the holding assembly via a means for securing such that theplurality of nested plant covers are maintained in the compressedcondition. The securing means may be selected from the group consistingof telescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape,adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs andcombinations thereof. In this embodiment, the nested plant covers in thecompressed condition are compressed to a percentage of the uncompressedcondition selected from the group consisting of from about 5 to about 10percent, from about 10 to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20percent, from about 20 to about 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30percent, from about 30 to about 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40percent, from about 40 to about 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50percent, from about 50 to about 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60percent, from about 60 to about 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70percent, from about 70 to about 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80percent, from about 80 to about 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90percent, from about 90 to about 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99percent.

The method may also include the step of providing a means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested plant covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for packaging a plurality of plant covers,comprising the steps of (a) providing a plurality of nested plant covershaving a length and a width; (b) compressing the plurality of nestedplant covers from an uncompressed condition to a compressed conditionsuch that the plurality of nested plant covers are compressed along atleast one of the length and width of the plurality of nested plantcovers; (c) providing a holding assembly having a retaining space; and(d) placing the plurality of nested plant covers in the compressedcondition in the retaining space of the holding assembly therebyproviding a package containing a plurality of compressed nested plantcovers.

In this embodiment, the holding assembly is selected from the groupconsisting of bags, boxes, tubes, at least one sheet of material andcombinations thereof. This method may further include the step ofsecuring the holding assembly via a means for securing such that theplurality of nested plant covers are maintained in the compressedcondition. The securing means may be selected from the group consistingof telescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape,adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs andcombinations thereof. In this embodiment, the nested plant covers in thecompressed condition are compressed to a percentage of the uncompressedcondition selected from the group consisting of from about 5 to about 10percent, from about 10 to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20percent, from about 20 to about 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30percent, from about 30 to about 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40percent, from about 40 to about 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50percent, from about 50 to about 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60percent, from about 60 to about 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70percent, from about 70 to about 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80percent, from about 80 to about 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90percent, from about 90 to about 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99percent.

The method may also include the step of providing a means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested plant covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for packaging a plurality of plant covers,comprising the steps of (a) providing a plurality of nested plant covershaving a length and a width; (b) compressing the plurality of nestedplant covers from an uncompressed condition to a compressed conditionsuch that the plurality of nested plant covers are compressed along atleast one of the length and width of the plurality of nested plantcovers; and (c) securing the nested plant covers in the compressedcondition thereby providing a package containing a plurality ofcompressed nested plant covers.

In this embodiment, the holding assembly is selected from the groupconsisting of bags, boxes, tubes, at least one sheet of material andcombinations thereof. This method may further include the step ofsecuring the holding assembly via a means for securing such that theplurality of nested plant covers are maintained in the compressedcondition. The securing means may be selected from the group consistingof telescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape,adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs andcombinations thereof. In this embodiment, the nested plant covers in thecompressed condition are compressed to a percentage of the uncompressedcondition selected from the group consisting of from about 5 to about 10percent, from about 10 to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20percent, from about 20 to about 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30percent, from about 30 to about 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40percent, from about 40 to about 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50percent, from about 50 to about 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60percent, from about 60 to about 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70percent, from about 70 to about 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80percent, from about 80 to about 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90percent, from about 90 to about 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99percent.

The method may also include the step of providing a means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested plant covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for packaging a plurality of nested plantcovers comprising the steps of (a) providing a plurality of nested plantcovers having a length and a width; (b) compressing the plurality ofnested plant covers from an uncompressed condition to a compressedcondition such that the plurality of nested plant covers are compressedalong at least one of the length and width of the plurality of nestedplant covers; (c) securing the nested plant covers in the compressedcondition; (d) providing a holding assembly having a retaining space;and (e) placing the nested plant covers in the secured compressedcondition in the retaining space of the holding assembly therebyproviding a package containing a plurality of compressed nested plantcovers.

In this embodiment, the holding assembly is selected from the groupconsisting of bags, boxes, tubes, at least one sheet of material andcombinations thereof.

This method may further include the step of securing the holdingassembly via a means for securing such that the plurality of nestedplant covers are maintained in the compressed condition. The securingmeans may be selected from the group consisting of telescoping cartons,bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives,staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs and combinations thereof. Inthis embodiment, the nested plant covers in the compressed condition arecompressed to a percentage of the uncompressed condition selected fromthe group consisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 toabout 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 toabout 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 toabout 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 toabout 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 toabout 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 toabout 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 toabout 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 toabout 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.

The method may also include the step of providing a means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested plant covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for packaging a plurality of nested plantcovers, comprising the steps of (a) providing a plurality of nestedplant covers having a length and a width; (b) providing a means forcompressing and securing the plurality of nested plant covers, whereinthe plurality of nested plant covers are compressed along at least oneof the length and the width; and (c) compressing and securing theplurality of nested plant covers in a single step utilizing thecompressing and securing means thereby providing a package containing aplurality of compressed nested plant covers.

This method may further include the step of securing the holdingassembly via a means for securing such that the plurality of nestedplant covers are maintained in the compressed condition. The securingmeans may be selected from the group consisting of telescoping cartons,bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives,staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs and combinations thereof. Inthis embodiment, the nested plant covers in the compressed condition arecompressed to a percentage of the uncompressed condition selected fromthe group consisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 toabout 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 toabout 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 toabout 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 toabout 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 toabout 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 toabout 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 toabout 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 toabout 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.

The method may also include the step of providing a means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested plant covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for packaging a plurality of nested plantcovers, comprising the steps of (a) providing a plurality of nestedplant covers having a length and a width; (b) providing a compressingassembly capable of compressing the plurality of nested plant coversalong at least one of the length and the width; (c) placing thecompressing assembly about the plurality of nested plant covers; (d)activating the compressing assembly such that the plurality of nestedplant covers are compressed by the compressing assembly from anuncompressed condition to a compressed condition; and (e) securing thecompressed plurality of nested plant covers in the compressed conditionthereby providing a package containing a plurality of compressed nestedplant covers.

This method may further include the step of securing the holdingassembly via a means for securing such that the plurality of nestedplant covers are maintained in the compressed condition. The securingmeans may be selected from the group consisting of telescoping cartons,bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives,staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs and combinations thereof. Inthis embodiment, the nested plant covers in the compressed condition arecompressed to a percentage of the uncompressed condition selected fromthe group consisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 toabout 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 toabout 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 toabout 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 toabout 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 toabout 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 toabout 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 toabout 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 toabout 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.

The method may also include the step of providing a means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested plant covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for packaging a plurality of nested plantcovers, comprising the steps of (a) providing a plurality of nestedplant covers having a length and a width; (b) providing a holdingassembly, the holding assembly having a retaining space that has atleast one of a length and a width that is less than the length and thewidth of the plurality nested plant covers; and (c) placing theplurality of nested plant covers into the retaining space of the holdingassembly and thereby compressing the plurality of nested plant coversfrom an uncompressed condition to a compressed condition along at leastone of the length and the width of the nested plant covers therebyproviding a package containing a plurality of compressed nested plantcovers.

This method may further include the step of securing the holdingassembly via a means for securing such that the plurality of nestedplant covers are maintained in the compressed condition. The securingmeans may be selected from the group consisting of telescoping cartons,bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives,staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs and combinations thereof. Inthis embodiment, the nested plant covers in the compressed condition arecompressed to a percentage of the uncompressed condition selected fromthe group consisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 toabout 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 toabout 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 toabout 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 toabout 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 toabout 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 toabout 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 toabout 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 toabout 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.

The method may also include the step of providing a means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested plant covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested plant covers.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for transporting a plurality of nested plantcovers, comprising the steps of (a) providing a holding assembly havingan open configuration and a closed configuration, the holding assemblyfurther having a retaining space; (b) providing a plurality of nestedplant covers, wherein the plurality of nested plant covers have a lengthand a width; (c) placing the plurality of nested plant covers in theretaining space of the holding assembly; (d) compressing the holdingassembly from the open configuration to the compressed configuration soas to compress the plurality of nested plant covers along at least oneof the width and length of the plurality of nested plant covers; and (e)transporting the plurality of nested plant covers in the carton assemblyto a predetermined location.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for transporting a plurality of nested plantcovers, comprising the steps of (a) providing a carton assembly capableof being reversibly articulated from an open configuration to a closedconfiguration, the carton assembly further having a base member and alid member, the base member having an inner surface and an outer surfacewith the inner surface defining a retaining space; (b) providing aplurality of nested plant covers, wherein the plurality of nested plantcovers have a width and a length; (c) placing the plurality of nestedplant covers in the inner retaining space of the base member; (d)compressing the plurality of nested plant covers along at least one ofthe width and length of the plurality of nested plant covers; (e)matingly engaging the lid member with the base member so as to put thecarton assembly in the closed configuration; and (f) transporting theplurality of nested plant covers in the carton assembly to apredetermined location.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a plant cover transport assembly for transporting aplurality of nested plant covers from a first location to a secondlocation, the plant cover transport assembly comprising (a) a basemember and a lid member, the base member and the lid member beingmatingly engageable with one another, the base member further includingan exterior surface and an interior surface wherein the interior surfacedefines an inner retaining space sized and shaped so as to be capable ofreceiving a plurality of nested plant covers having a width and a lengthand wherein the lid member is sized and shaped so as too substantiallymatingly engage the base member and compress the plurality of plantcovers along at least one of the width and length of the plurality ofnested plant covers when the transport assembly is in a closedconfiguration.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a package containing a plurality of nested plantcovers, the package comprising (a) a base member and a lid member; and(b) a plurality of nested plant covers having a width and a length. Thebase member may further include an exterior surface and an interiorsurface, the interior surface defining an inner retaining space sizedand shaped so as to be capable of receiving the plurality of nestedplant covers, the lid member sized and shaped so as to compress theplurality of plant covers in the inner retaining space along at leastone of the width and length of the plurality of plant covers when thelid member matingly engages the base member thereby placing the packagecontaining the plurality of nested plant covers in a closedconfiguration.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a plant cover, comprising (a) a plant cover thatsubstantially encompasses and surrounds a flower pot, wherein the plantcover has been transported from a first location to a second locationutilizing a transport assembly. In this embodiment, the plant covertransport assembly further includes (a) a base member and a lid member,the base member and the lid member being matingly engageable with oneanother, the base member further including an exterior surface and aninterior surface wherein the interior surface defines an inner retainingspace sized and shaped so as to be capable of receiving a plurality ofnested plant covers having a width and a length and wherein the lidmember is sized and shaped so as too substantially matingly engage thebase member and compress the plurality of plant covers along at leastone of the width and length of the plurality of nested plant covers whenthe carton assembly is in a closed configuration.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for storing a plurality of nested plantcovers, comprising the steps of (a) providing a carton assembly capableof being reversibly articulated from an open configuration to a closedconfiguration, the carton assembly further having a base member and alid member, the base member having an inner surface and an outer surfacewith the inner surface defining a retaining space; (b) providing aplurality of nested plant covers, wherein the plurality of nested plantcovers have a width and a length; (c) placing the plurality of nestedplant covers in the inner retaining space of the base member; (d)compressing the plurality of nested plant covers along at least one ofthe width and length of the plurality of nested plant covers; and (e)matingly engaging the lid member with the base member so as to put thecarton assembly in the closed configuration to thereby provide a cartonassembly having the plurality of nested plant covers stored therein.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for transporting a plurality of plantcovers, comprising the steps of (a) providing a carton assembly capableof being reversibly articulated from an open configuration to a closedconfiguration, the carton assembly further having a base member and alid member, the base member having an inner surface and an outer surfacewith the inner surface defining a retaining space; (b) providing aplurality of plant covers, wherein the plurality of plant covers have awidth and a length; (c) placing the plurality of plant covers in theinner retaining space of the base member; (d) compressing the pluralityof plant covers along at least one of the width and length of theplurality of plant covers; (e) matingly engaging the lid member with thebase member so as to put the carton assembly in the closedconfiguration; and (f) transporting the plurality of plant covers in thecarton assembly to a predetermined location.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a plant cover transport assembly for transporting aplurality of plant covers from a first location to a second location,the plant cover transport assembly includes a base member and a lidmember, the base member and the lid member being matingly engageablewith one another, the base member further including an exterior surfaceand an interior surface wherein the interior surface defines an innerretaining space sized and shaped so as to be capable of receiving aplurality of plant covers having a width and a length and wherein thelid member is sized and shaped so as too substantially matingly engagethe base member and compress the plurality of plant covers along atleast one of the width and length of the plurality of plant covers whenthe transport assembly is in a closed configuration.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a package containing a plurality of plant covers, thepackage includes (a) a base member and a lid member; and (b) a pluralityof plant covers having a width and a length. The base member further hasan exterior surface and an interior surface, the interior surfacedefining an inner retaining space sized and shaped so as to be capableof receiving the plurality of plant covers, the lid member sized andshaped so as to compress the plurality of plant covers in the innerretaining space along at least one of the width and length of theplurality of plant covers when the lid member matingly engages the basemember thereby placing the package containing the plurality of plantcovers in a closed configuration.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a plant cover, the plant cover substantiallyencompasses and surrounds a flower pot, wherein the plant cover has beentransported from a first location to a second location utilizing atransport assembly. In this embodiment, the plant cover transportassembly further includes a base member and a lid member, the basemember and the lid member being matingly engageable with one another,the base member further including an exterior surface and an interiorsurface wherein the interior surface defines an inner retaining spacesized and shaped so as to be capable of receiving a plurality of plantcovers having a width and a length and wherein the lid member is sizedand shaped so as too substantially matingly engage the base member andcompress the plurality of plant covers along at least one of the widthand length of the plurality of plant covers when the carton assembly isin a closed configuration.

In an alternative embodiment, the presently disclosed and claimedinvention provides a method for storing a plurality of plant covers,comprising the steps of (a) providing a carton assembly capable of beingreversibly articulated from an open configuration to a closedconfiguration, the carton assembly further having a base member and alid member, the base member having an inner surface and an outer surfacewith the inner surface defining a retaining space; (b) providing aplurality of nested plant covers, wherein the plurality of nested plantcovers have a width and a length; (c) placing the plurality of nestedplant covers in the inner retaining space of the base member; (d)compressing the plurality of nested plant covers along at least one ofthe width and length of the plurality of nested plant covers; and (e)matingly engaging the lid member with the base member so as to put thecarton assembly in the closed configuration to thereby provide a cartonassembly having the plurality of nested plant covers stored therein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a plurality of nested plant covers.

FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the plurality of nested plant covers ofFIG. 1A adjacent a base member of one embodiment of the presentlyclaimed and disclosed invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of thepresently claimed and disclosed invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of one embodiment of the presently claimed anddisclosed invention.

FIG. 4 is a further side view of one embodiment of the presently claimedand disclosed invention in operation.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view of one embodiment of the presently claimedand disclosed invention in operation.

FIG. 4B. is a side view of one embodiment of the presently claimed anddisclosed invention in operation.

FIGS. 5A-5C are perspective views of one embodiment of the presentlyclaimed and disclosed invention.

FIGS. 6A-6H are side views of an alternative embodiment of the presentlyclaimed and disclosed invention.

FIGS. 7A-7 c are side views of an alternative embodiment of thepresently claimed and disclosed invention.

FIGS. 8A-8B are side views of an alternative embodiment of the presentlyclaimed and disclosed invention.

FIGS. 9-9D are side views of an alternative embodiment of the presentlyclaimed and disclosed invention.

FIGS. 10-10B are side views of an alternative embodiment of thepresently claimed and disclosed invention.

FIGS. 11-11C are side views of an alternative embodiment of thepresently claimed and disclosed invention.

FIGS. 12A-12C are side views of an alternative embodiment of thepresently claimed and disclosed invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and the arrangement of the components setforth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Theinvention is capable of other embodiments or of being practiced orcarried out in various ways and, as such, all such embodiments and/orequivalents are to be considered as being encompassed within the scopeand description of the present invention. Also, it is to be understoodthat the phraseology and terminology employed herein is for a purpose ofdescription and should not be regarded as limiting.

Shown in FIGS. 1 through 5 is one embodiment of an article packagingassembly 10 which is constructed in accordance with the presentlyclaimed and disclosed invention. The article packaging assembly 10 isadapted to package, store and ship a plurality of articles (both nestedand unnested articles, with an example of unnested articles shown moreparticularly in FIG. 4B) in a compressed condition or state. The term“compressed condition or state” is defined as a condition wherein thearticle occupies less space than the fully erected or uncompressedarticle. While the presently claimed and disclosed invention will bediscussed primarily as being a packaging system, one of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate that the article packaging system 10 can alsobe used to store a plurality of articles in a compressed condition, toship a plurality of articles in a compressed condition, or to package,ship, and/or store a plurality of articles in a compressed condition.

It should be noted that the presently claimed and disclosed articlepackaging system 10 is described herein as being capable of packaging,storing and shipping a plurality of nested and unnested articles with aplurality of nested plant covers 12 being shown for purposes ofdescription in the Figures and should not be regarded as limiting. Thepresently claimed and disclosed invention should not be regarded asbeing limited to the plurality of nested plant covers 12 (a type ofarticle that is extremely advantageous for use with the presentlyclaimed and disclosed invention): rather, the term “article” is intendedto cover any item that is capable of being placed into a compressedcondition or state for packaging, storing or shipping. For example, butnot by way of limitation, the articles may be drinking cups, flowerpots, flower pot covers, flower pot sleeves, flower sleeves, vases,hats, saucers, Easter baskets, containers for use in microwave ovens(such as containers made from paper, plastic, synthetic or naturalfibers), rose stem boxes, egg cartons, potting trays, pans, trays,bowls, basket liners, candy trays, candy cups, planter trays for growingplants, disposable bowls and dishes, silverware, corsage boxes andcontainers, food service trays (such as those used for bakery goods,french fries, ground beef, liver and other raw meats in supermarkets,for example), boxes for hamburgers or pies and the like, and variousother articles. The term “article” as used herein is intended toencompass all of the specific articles just mentioned and the termarticle also is intended to be interpreted broadly enough to encompassany other article having a predetermined shape where the article may becompressed and uncompressed and still be capable of substantiallymaintaining its intended uncompressed function.

The article packaging system 10 is shown with the plurality of nestedplant covers 12 in FIGS. 1-5. as shown in FIG. 1A, the plurality ofnested plant covers 12 have a skirt portion 14, a base portion 16, abottom 17, a length 18, a width 20 and a height 22. The base portion 16further has an outer peripheral surface 24, an inner peripheral surface26, and a holding space 28 defined by the inner peripheral surface 26(see FIG. 4).

The article packaging system 10 (shown in FIGS. 1B, and 2-4) alsoincludes a holding assembly 30. The holding assembly 30 has a basemember 32 and a lid member 34. The base member 32 has a first side 36, asecond side 38, a first edge 40, a second edge 42 and a bottom side 44,all of which cooperate to define and form a base member inner retainingspace 46. The base member 32 and the base member inner retaining space46 are shown generally in FIG. 1B as a carton or tray type of device.While this carton or tray type of device is one preferred embodiment ofthe base member 32, the presently claimed and disclosed invention shouldnot be regarded as being limited to this embodiment: rather, allconfigurations of the base member 32 that meet the functionallimitations and requirements herein set forth for the base member 32 areto be considered within the definition and description of the basemember 32.

The lid member 34 of the holding assembly 30 has a first side 48, asecond side 50, a first edge 52, a second edge 54 and a top side 56, allof which cooperate to define and form a lid member inner retaining space58. The lid member 34 and the lid member inner retaining space 58 areshown generally in FIG. 1B as a carton or tray type of device. Whilethis carton or tray type of device is one preferred embodiment of thelid member 34, the presently claimed and disclosed invention should notbe regarded as being limited to this embodiment: rather, allconfigurations of the lid member 34 that meet the functional limitationsand requirements herein set forth for the lid member 34 are to beconsidered within the definition and description of the base member 32.

Optionally and in a secondary embodiment, the holding assembly 30 mayalso include a base portion support member 60 and a holding spacesupport member 62, both being shown in FIGS. 2-4. The base portionsupport member 60 is generally U-shaped and has a first flange 64, asecond flange 66 and a platform 68 suspended between the first flange 64and the second flange 66. Although the platform 68 is shown as beingsuspended from a first edge 70 of the first flange 64 and a first edge72 of the second flange 66 in FIGS. 2-4, the presently claimed anddisclosed invention should not be considered as being limited to such aconfiguration. Rather, the platform 68 may be suspended from a middleportion 74 of the first flange 64 and a middle portion 76 of the secondflange 66. Alternatively, the platform 68 may be suspended from a secondedge 78 of the first flange 64 and a second edge 80 of the second flange66. Furthermore, the platform 68 may be suspended between any of thefirst edge 70, middle portion 74, second edge 78, first edge 72, middleportion 76, and second edge 80.

The platform 68 of the base portion support member 60 also has an uppersurface 82, a lower surface 84 and a passageway 86 extending therethrough. The passageway 86 further includes a peripheral edge 88. Thebase portion support member 60 is fit around the base portion 16 of theplurality of nested plant covers 12 so as to hold and support the baseportion 16 of a first plant cover 90 of the plurality of nested plantcovers 12 when placed in the base member inner retaining space 46.

The holding space support member 62 has a first end 92, a second end 94and a length 96 extending there between. The holding space supportmember 62 is placed into the holding space 28 of the base portion 16 ofa last plant cover 98 of the plurality of nested plant covers 12 suchthat the first end 92 of the holding space support member 62 is adjacentthe bottom 17 of the holding space 28 of the last plant cover 98 of theplurality of nested plant covers 12, and the second end 94 of theholding space support member 62 is adjacent the second edge 42 of thebase member 32 with the length 96 of the holding space support member 62extending there between. In this manner, the holding space supportmember 62 biases the plurality of nested plant covers 12 away from thesecond edge 42 of the base member 32 so as to keep the plurality ofnested plant covers 12 in a substantially tightly nested condition orstate.

As shown in FIG. 4, the holding assembly 30 forms an integratedstructure when the base member 32 and the lid member 34 are matinglyengaged with one another. In particular, the lid member 34 fits into thebase member 32 wherein the lid member retaining space 58 and the basemember inner retaining space 46 integrally mate to form a holdingassembly inner retaining space 100. The holding assembly inner retainingspace 100, when fully formed, is sized and shaped to be smaller than atleast one of the length 18, width 20 and height 22 of the plurality ofnested plant covers 12 so as to put the plurality of nested plant covers12 in the compressed state or condition when the base member 32 and thelid member 34 are integrally mated to form the holding assembly innerretaining space 100.

After the base member 32 and the lid member 34 are integrally mated toform the holding assembly inner retaining space 100 (and therebycompressing the plurality of nested plant covers 12), at least onesecuring assembly 101 (with three securing assemblies 360 being shown inFIG. 4) can be placed onto the holding assembly 30 so as to hold thebase member 32 and the lid member 34 in the integrally mated conditionand thereby maintain the plurality of nested plant covers 12 in thecompressed condition or state. One of ordinary skill in the art giventhe present specification would appreciate that the holding assembly 30and the at least one securing assembly 101 may be a single unitarydevice. For example, but not by way of limitation, cling wrap may beused such that its inherent properties would fulfill the function oroperation of both the holding assembly 30 and the at least one securingassembly 101 in a single unitary device. Of course, one of ordinaryskill in the art given the present specification would recognize thatmany other devices other than the cling wrap could be used such asstretch wrap, barbs, staples, bands and so forth and these examplesshould not be regarded as limiting.

The at least one securing assembly 101 is shown in FIG. 4 as a band orsegment of adhesive tape. The at least one securing assembly 101 is notto be considered as being limited to these embodiments, however, and theat least one securing assembly 101 may be a carton, a telescopingcarton, tubes, bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape, adhesive,cohesive, staples, wire, ribbons, string, twine, barbs, wirelessstaples, staples, cling wrap, interlocking members, tabs and matingmembers, ratcheting members, step lock members, bonding materials,chains, slats, strapping and combinations thereof. Also, although the atleast one securing assembly 101 is shown in FIG. 4 as being placed on anouter surface 102 of the lid member 34 and extending around at least aportion of an outer surface 103 of the base member 32, one of ordinaryskill in the art would also appreciate that the at least one securingassembly 101 may be alternatively placed on the outer surface 102 of thelid member 34 and thereafter engage an inner surface 104 of the basemember 32 to hold the base member 32 and the lid member 34 in theintegrally mated condition. Conversely, the at least one securingassembly 101 may be placed on the inner surface 104 of the base member32 and thereafter engage the outer surface 102 of the lid member 34 tohold the base member 32 and the lid member 34 in the integrally matedcondition.

Optionally and in another embodiment, the holding assembly 30 may alsoinclude a dispensing means 107 for dispensing at least one of theplurality of nested plant covers 12 from the holding assembly innerretaining space 100 of the holding assembly 30, as shown for example inFIGS. 4A and 4B. Although the dispensing means 107 is shown as arectangular cutout, the presently claimed and disclosed invention shouldnot be considered as being limited to such a configuration.

Preferably, the dispensing means 107 is formed in at least one of thelid member 34 and the base member 32 of the holding assembly 30 prior tothe lid member 34 and base member 32 being positioned in the integrallymated condition. However, one of ordinary skill in the art willappreciate that the dispensing means 107 can be formed in at least oneof the lid member 34 and the base member 32 of the holding assembly 30after the lid member 34 and base member 32 are positioned partially orcompletely in the integrally mated condition.

As shown in FIG. 4A, the dispensing means 107 can be utilized todispense at least one of the plurality of plant covers 12 from theholding assembly 30 when the plurality of plant covers 12 are nested.Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 4B, the dispensing means 107 can beutilized to dispense at least one of the plurality of plant covers 12from the holding assembly 30 when the plurality of plant covers 12 areunnested. In operation, once the at least one plant cover 12 isdispensed from the holding assembly 30 via the dispensing means 107, theat least one plant cover 12 can be re-erected to its full or semi-fullthree-dimensional shape with one motion of pressing horizontally on twoopposing sides of the at least one plant cover 12 so as to restore theat least one plant cover 12 to its fully erected form.

Shown in FIG. 5 is one embodiment of a compressing assembly 105 used toplace the lid member 34 and the base member 32 in the integrally matedcondition and thereby placing the plurality of nested plant covers 12 inthe compressed condition or state. The compressing assembly 105 includesa containing member 106 and a compressing member 108.

The containing member 106 includes a first side 110, a second side 112,a first edge 114, a second edge 116, a bottom 118, a top portion 120 anda bottom portion 122, all of which cooperate to form a retaining space124 having an inner peripheral surface 126 and an outer peripheralsurface 128. At least one of the first side 110, the second side 112,the first edge 114 and the second edge 116 have at least one accesspoint 130 (with six access points 130 being shown in FIGS. 5A-5C).

Although a biasing member 132 is shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the biasingmember 132 is an optional element and part of an alternate embodiment ofthe containing member 106 of the compressing assembly 105. The biasingmember 132 has a top edge 134 and a bottom edge 136 and is generallytriangularly shaped with the top edge 134 being generally narrower in afirst depth 138 than a second depth 140 at the bottom edge 136 of thebiasing member 132. The biasing member 132 acts to position the outersurface 102 of the first side 48, the second side 50, the first edge 52and the second edge 54 of the lid member 34 into a configuration so astoo easily fit adjacent the inner surface 104 of the first side 36, thesecond side 38, the first edge 40 and the second edge 42 of the basemember 32.

As mentioned and shown in FIGS. 5A-5C, the compressing assembly 105includes the compressing member 108. The compressing member 108 has aplunging member 142, a cross-member 144, a plurality of pressuringmembers 146 and a plurality of compression members 148. The plungingmember 142 includes a first end 150, a second end 152 and a length 154there between. The cross-member 144 includes a first end 156, a secondend 158 and a length 160 there between. The plurality of pressuringmembers 146 includes a first end 162, a second end 164 and a length 166there between. The plurality of compression members 148 includes anupper surface 168, a lower surface 170 and an outer peripheral edge 172.Although there, are shown four pressuring members 146 in FIGS. 5A-5C,any number of the pressuring members 146 may exist. Likewise, althoughthere are shown four compression members 148 in FIGS. 5A-5C, any numberof compression members 148 may exist. As will be appreciated by one ofordinary skill in the art, the number of pressuring members 146 and thenumber of compression members 148 may be widely varied and the inventionshould not be considered as being limited to any specific number andcertainly should not be limited to the number shown in FIGS. 5A-5C.

In operation, the article packaging system 10 packages, stores and/orships a plurality of articles such as the plurality of nested plantcovers 12. One such use of the packaging system 10 is shown in FIGS. 1-5with alternative embodiments shown in the remaining figures. Theplurality of nested plant covers 12 are placed in the base member innerretaining space 46. In an alternate embodiment (shown in FIGS. 2-4),prior to the plurality of nested plant covers 12 being placed in thebase member inner retaining space 46, the base portion support member 60is placed on the base portion 16 of the first plant cover 90 of theplurality of nested plant covers 12 and the holding space support member62 is placed within the holding space 28 of the last plant cover 98 ofthe plurality of nested plant covers 12. While the process is describedas placing the plurality of nested plant covers 12 in the base memberinner retaining space 46, it is also contemplated that the plurality ofnested plant covers 12 could be initially placed within the lid memberinner retaining space 58 as well.

Once the plurality of nested plant covers 12 are placed in the basemember inner retaining space 46 of the base member 32, the lid member 34is fitted within the base member 32 such that the outer surface 102 ofthe lid member 34 is adjacent the inner surface 104 of the base member32. Alternatively and not shown, the lid member 34 may be fitted aroundthe base member 32 such that an inner surface 173 of the lid member 34is adjacent the outer surface 103 of the base member 32. In eitherembodiment, the base member 32 and the lid member 34 form a telescopingbox-like configuration integrally mating to define and form the holdingassembly inner retaining space 100.

After the mating of the base member 32 and the lid member 34 isaccomplished thereby placing the plurality of nested plant covers 12 inthe holding assembly inner retaining space 100, the bottom side 44 ofthe base member 32 and top side 56 of the lid member 34 are urgedgenerally toward one another to thereby compress and place the pluralityof nested plant covers 12 in a compressed state or condition. The term“compressed state or condition” means that the plurality of nested plantcovers 12 have at least one of the length 18, the width 20 and theheight 22 being less in the compressed state or condition than a similarplurality of nested plant covers that are in a fully uncompressedcondition or state. The term “compressed state or condition” may also beconceptualized or described as the state or condition wherein theholding assembly inner retaining space 100 has a volume that is lessthan the volume of a plurality of nested plant covers in a fully erectedand uncompressed condition or state.

It is contemplated that the plurality of nested plant covers 12 in thecompressed condition or state are compressed to a percentage of thefully uncompressed condition from about 5 to about 10 percent, fromabout 10 to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, fromabout 20 to about 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, fromabout 30 to about 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, fromabout 40 to about 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, fromabout 50 to about 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, fromabout 60 to about 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, fromabout 70 to about 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, fromabout 80 to about 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, fromabout 90 to about 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent. In apreferred embodiment, the plurality of nested plant covers 12 arecompressed from about 40 to about 60 percent, an amount that allows forthe compressed plurality of nested plant covers 12 to be rearticulatedor uncompressed without substantially affecting the structure orappearance of the plurality of nested plant covers 12. In a furtherpreferred embodiment, the plurality of nested plant covers 12 arecompressed about 50 percent, an amount that allows for the compressedplurality of nested plant covers 12 to be rearticulated or uncompressedwithout substantially affecting the structure or appearance of theplurality of nested plant covers 12.

Once the plurality of nested plant covers 12 have been compressed withinthe holding assembly inner retaining space 100, the at least onesecuring assembly 101 is applied too at least a portion of the outersurface 102 of the lid member 34 and too at least a portion of the outersurface 103 of the base member 32 to maintain the holding assembly 30 inthe compressed condition or state. It should also be apparent that theat least one securing assembly 101 may be placed on at least a portionof the outer surface 102 of the lid member 34 and too at least a portionof the outer surface 103 of the base member 32 prior to the step ofcompressing the holding assembly 30. In this embodiment, the at leastone securing assembly 101 could be the means of compressing the holdingassembly 30 or the at least one securing assembly 101 could be activatedby the act of compressing the holding assembly 30 and thereaftermaintain the holding assembly 30 in the compressed state or condition.

Any method by which the plurality of nested plant covers 12 can becompressed within the holding assembly 30 is contemplated as beingwithin the scope of the presently claimed and disclosed invention. Whilepreferred embodiments of means in which to compress the holding assembly30 are hereinafter set forth in detail, these preferred embodimentsshould not be regarded as limiting. Rather, these embodiments are setforth for the purpose of explaining one or more ways in which tocompress the holding assembly 30 and thereby compress the plurality ofnested plant covers 12 along at least one of the length 18, the width 20and/or the height 22.

One such embodiment is shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. In this embodiment, theplurality of nested plant covers 12 are placed in the base member innerretaining space 46. The base member 32 containing the plurality ofnested plant covers 12 is thereafter placed in the retaining space 124of the containing member 106 of the compressing assembly 105. Whenplaced in the retaining space 124, the outer surface 103 of the basemember 32 is substantially adjacent the inner peripheral surface 126 ofthe containing member 106. The lid member 34 is then positioned over theretaining space 124 of the containing member 106 containing the basemember 32. The lid member 34 is then moved downwardly (or the containingmember 106 is moved upwardly) such that the outer surface 102 of the lidmember 34 engages the biasing member 132 and thereafter the biasingmember 132 urges at least one of the first side 48, the second side 50,the first edge 52 or the second edge 54 of the lid member 34 to fitwithin the base member 32 such that the outer surface 102 of the lidmember 34 is substantially adjacent the inner surface 104 of the basemember 32. In this manner the plurality of nested plant covers 12 areplaced in the compressed condition or state within the holding assemblyinner retaining space 100.

The act of moving the lid member 34 downwardly to engage with the basemember 32 to compress the plurality of nested plant covers 12 within theholding assembly inner retaining space 100 can be accomplished in anynumber of ways. In the simplest embodiment, the lid member 34 is moveddownwardly by hand to engage with the base member 32. Alternatively, anymechanical method may be used and the method may be fully automatic,partially automatic or manually actuated and used.

One such mechanical method is shown in FIGS. 5A-5C. In FIGS. 5B and 5Cthe compressing member 108 is shown as urging or moving the lid member34 downwardly so as to engage the base member 32. In particular, thelower surface 170 of the plurality of compression members 148 are placedsubstantially adjacent to and in contact with the outer surface 102 ofthe lid member 34. The compressing member 108 is thereafter moveddownwardly causing the lid member 34 to matingly engage the base member32 and thereafter compress the plurality of nested plant covers 12within the holding assembly inner retaining space 100. The compressingmember 108 is shown in FIG. 5C as maintaining downward pressure on theouter surface 102 of the lid member 34 (thereby maintaining theplurality of plant covers 12 in the compressed state or condition) whileat least one securing assembly 101 is placed adjacent at least a portionof at least one of the outer surface 102 of the lid member 34 and theouter surface 103 of the base member 32 so as to maintain and secure theplurality of nested plant covers 12 in the holding assembly innerretaining space 100 in the compressed condition or state.

The first end 150 of the plunging member 142 may be connected to anytype of machinery (not shown) that is capable of moving the compressingmember 108 vertically so as to be capable of reversibly applyingpressure or compressive force on the holding assembly 30. Alternatively,the first end 150 of the plunging member 142 may be manually grasped(not shown) and moved in a vertical manner so as to be capable ofreversibly applying pressure or compressive force on the holdingassembly 30.

Once the at least one securing assembly 101 is placed about the holdingassembly 30 to maintain the holding assembly 30 in the compressedcondition or state, the compressing member 108 is removed and theholding assembly 30 containing the compressed plurality of nested plantcovers 12 in the holding assembly inner retaining space 100 is removedfrom the containing member 106 of the compressing assembly 105 toprovide a plurality of compressed plant covers (i.e., a compressedarticle) in a package that can be stored and shipped in an economicaland efficient manner.

FIGS. 6A-6H show one embodiment of a semi-automated or fully automatedmethod of compressing the plurality of nested plant covers 12 in theholding assembly 30. Shown in FIGS. 6A-6H is a compressing assembly 105a. The compressing assembly 105 a includes a containing member 106 a, acompressing member 108 a, a conveyor assembly 174 and a securing member176. The compressing member 108 a includes a plunging member 142 a, across member 144 a and a plurality of compression members 148 a. Theplunging member 142 a has a first end 150 a, a second end 152 a and alength 154 a extending between the first end 150 a and the second end152 a. The cross member 144 a includes an upper surface 178, a lowersurface 180 and an outer peripheral edge 182. The plurality ofcompression members 148 a are shown in FIGS. 6A-6H as being integrallyattached to the lower surface 180 of the cross member 144 a. In theembodiment shown in FIGS. 6A-6H, the compression members 148 a arerollers or any other device capable of moving independently of the crossmember 144 a and in a direction generally perpendicular to the movementof the cross member 144 a and parallel to the movement of the holdingassembly 30 through the compressing assembly 105 a.

The containing member 106 a is shown in FIGS. 6A-6H as being generallybox-shaped although the containing member 106 a can be of any shape andsize as long as it maintains the function ascribed to the containingmember 106 a. Indeed, the containing member 106 a is an optional elementof the presently claimed and disclosed invention and one of ordinaryskill in the art would appreciate that the containing member 106 a isnot essential to the operation of the compressing assembly 105 a. Whenused and as shown in FIGS. 6A-6H, the containing member 106 a includesan opening 184, an exit 186 and a passageway 188.

The conveyor assembly 174 includes a staging member 190 and a conveyorbelt assembly 192. The securing member 176 includes an opening 194, anexit 196 and a passageway 198 extending between the opening 194 and theexit 196 of the securing member 176. The conveyor belt assembly 192 ispositioned and extends under the containing member 106 a and through thesecuring member 176. Alternatively (not shown), the conveyor beltassembly 192 may be positioned and extend through the containing member106 a as well as through the securing member 176.

In operation, the holding assembly 30 containing the plurality of nestedplant covers 12 is placed on the staging member 190. Alternatively, thebase member 32 may be placed on the staging member 190 and thereafterthe plurality of nested plant covers 12 are placed within the basemember inner retaining space 46 with the lid member 34 then beingmatingly engaged with the base member 32 as described herein above withrespect to the embodiments of FIGS. 1-5. One of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that the holding assembly 30 can be constructedprior to placing it on the staging member 190, that the holding assembly30 can be partially constructed prior to placing it on the stagingmember 190 or that the holding assembly 30 can be fully constructed onthe staging member 190. As can be appreciated from FIG. 6A, the basemember 32 and the lid member 34 when placed on the staging member 190may only be partially matingly engaged with one another—, i.e., theouter surface 102 of the lid member 34 may only be partially adjacentthe inner surface 104 of the base member 32 such that the plurality ofnested plant covers are not compressed or only partially compressed.

After the holding assembly 30 is placed on the staging member 190, it ismoved onto the conveyor belt assembly 192 and into the passageway 188 ofthe containing member 106 a as shown in FIG. 6B. After placing theholding assembly 30 into the passageway 188, the compressing member 108a is activated and moves downwardly such that the plurality ofcompression members 148 a engage at least a portion of the outer surface102 of the lid member 34 and urge or move the lid member 34 downwardlytoward the base member 32 thereby compressing the holding assembly 30and the plurality of nested plant covers 12 contained in the holdingassembly inner retaining space 100. An alternate view of the containingmember 106 a, the holding assembly 30 and the compressing member 108 ais shown in FIG. 6D and more clearly shows the compression of theholding assembly 30 and the plurality of nested plant covers 12 withinthe holding assembly inner retaining space 100.

As shown in FIG. 6C, after the holding assembly 30 is compressed, theholding assembly 30 is moved along the conveyor belt assembly 192 out ofthe containing member 106 a and through the passageway 198 of thesecuring member 176 wherein at least one securing assembly 101 a isplaced about the holding assembly 30. The at least one securing assembly101 a is the same as the at least one securing assembly 101 and performsthe same function—, i.e., to maintain the holding assembly 30 in thecompressed state or condition after compression. As the holding assembly30 moves through the securing member 176, additional securing assemblies101 a may be applied about the holding assembly 30 with three suchsecuring assemblies 101 a being shown applied to the holding assembly 30in FIGS. 6E-6G.

An alternate embodiment of the conveyor assembly 174 is shown in FIG. 6Has further including a secondary plunging member 200 which may beautomatically, semi-automatically or manually actuated to assist in themovement of the holding assembly 30 through the containing member 106 a.In operation, the secondary plunging member 200 has a first end 202, asecond end 204 and a length 206 extending there between. The first end202 of the secondary plunging member 200 is placed adjacent the outersurface 103 of the base member 32 and thereafter the secondary plungingmember 200 is moved in a direction indicated by arrow 208 and generallytoward the securing member 176. In this manner, the secondary plungingmember 200 assists in moving the holding assembly 30 through thecontaining member 106 a and the securing member 176.

An alternate embodiment of the compressing assembly is shown in FIGS.7A-7C and referenced generally as a compressing assembly 105 b. Thecompressing assembly 105 b is generally similar to the compressingassembly 105 a described herein above except that an extension conveyorassembly 210 is further included. The extension conveyor assembly 210 isgenerally disposed a distance 212 above the conveyor assembly 174 and isplaced in line between the containing member 106 a and the securingmember 176.

In operation, the holding assembly 30 is passed through the containingmember 106 a and compressed via the compressing member 108 a (as shownin FIG. 7B) such that the holding assembly 30 fits between the extensionconveyor assembly 210 and the conveyor assembly 174. In combination, theextension conveyor assembly 210 and the conveyor assembly 174 thereaftermove the compressed holding assembly 30 into the securing member 176wherein at least one securing assembly 101 a is placed about thecompressed holding assembly 30 to maintain the compressed holdingassembly 30 and the plurality of nested plant covers 12 in thecompressed condition or state.

A further embodiment of the compressing assembly is shown in FIGS. 8A-8Band referenced generally as a compressing assembly 105 c. Thecompressing assembly 105 c includes the securing member 176 and theconveyor assembly 174. The compressing assembly 105 c also includes asecond conveyor assembly 214 having a tapered portion 216 and ahorizontal portion 218. The second conveyor assembly 214 is disposedgenerally above the conveyor assembly 174. The tapered portion 216 ofthe second conveyor assembly 214 defines a tapered channel 220 disposedbetween the conveyor assembly 174 and the tapered portion 216 of thesecond conveyor assembly 214. The horizontal portion 218 of the secondconveyor assembly 214 defines a horizontal channel 222 disposed betweenthe conveyor assembly 174 and the horizontal portion 218 of the secondconveyor assembly 214.

In operation, the holding assembly 30 having the plurality of plantcovers 12 disposed therein is placed within the tapered channel 220 andmoved into the horizontal channel 222 and generally toward the securingmember 176. As the holding assembly 30 is moved through the taperedchannel 220 and into the horizontal channel 222, the lid member 34 ismoved generally downward so as too integrally mate with the base member32 and thereby compress the plurality of nested plant covers 12 withinthe holding assembly inner retaining space 100. As the compressedholding assembly 30 leaves the horizontal channel 222, the compressedholding assembly 30 enters the securing member 176 wherein at least onesecuring assembly 101 is placed around the compressed holding assembly30 so as to hold the compressed holding assembly 30 in the compressedcondition and/or state.

An alternative embodiment of the presently disclosed and claimedinvention is shown in FIGS. 9A through 9F and designated as articlepackaging system 10 d. Article packaging system 10 d includes theplurality of nested plant covers 12, a holding assembly 30 d and acompressing assembly 105 d. The plurality of nested plant covers 12 usedwith the article packaging system 10 d are identical to the plurality ofnested plant covers previously described herein. As such, thedescription of the plurality of nested plant covers 12 will not berepeated here.

The holding assembly 30 d is shown in FIGS. 9A through 9F as generallybeing a carton type of container having a base member 32 d. The basemember 32 d has an inner surface 104 d, an outer surface 103 d, a bottomside 44 d, a top side 224 and an inner retaining space 46 d.

The compressing assembly 105 d includes an urging member 232 and abiasing member 234. The biasing member 234 has an inner surface 236, anouter surface 238, a top side 240 having a width 242, a bottom side 244having a width 246, and a passageway 248 defined by the inner surface236 and extending from the top side 240 to the bottom side 244. As shownin FIGS. 9 and 9A, the width 242 of the top side 240 of the biasingmember 234 is greater than the width 246 of the bottom side 244 of thebiasing member 234. The urging member 232 has a first end 250, a secondend 252 and a length 254 extending between the first end 250 and thesecond end 252.

In operation, the bottom side 244 of the biasing member 234 is placedadjacent and, in at least one embodiment, within the top side 224 of thebase member 32 d. In this embodiment, the width 246 of the bottom side244 of the biasing member 234 is less than a width 256 of the innerretaining space 46 d. The plurality of nested plant covers 12 are thenplaced adjacent the top side 240 of the biasing member 234. The firstend 250 of the urging member 232 is then brought into contact with theplurality of nested plant covers 12 such that the plurality of nestedplant covers 12 are urged into and through the passageway 248 of thebiasing member 234 and into the inner retaining space 46 d of the basemember 32 d. As the plurality of nested plant covers are urged throughthe passageway 248 of the biasing member 234, they are compressed alongat least one of their length 18, width 20 or height 22. Once in theinner retaining space 46 d of the base member 32 d, the biasing member234 is removed and the top side 224 of the base member 32 d is closed orsealed to thereby provide a compressed and packaged system including theplurality of nested plant covers 12 shown in FIG. 9C. In an alternateembodiment shown in FIG. 9D, the width 242 of the top side 240 of thebiasing member 234 may be adjustable so as to accommodate differingsizes of the plurality of nested plant covers 12 into the base member 32d. In the embodiment of FIG. 9D, the biasing member 234 has at least onehinge (not shown) that allows the width 242 of the top side 240 of thebiasing member 234 to be varied.

In yet another embodiment of the presently claimed and disclosedinvention, shown in FIGS. 10-10B is an article packaging system 10 ewhich includes the plurality of nested plant covers 12, a holdingassembly 30 e having a base member 32 e having a plurality of supports258, and at least one securing assembly 101 e. The plurality of nestedplant covers 12 used with the article packaging system 10 e areidentical to the plurality of nested plant covers previously describedherein. As such, the description of the plurality of nested plant covers12 will not be repeated here.

In operation, the plurality of supports 258 are placed generally aboutthe plurality of nested plant covers 12 with three such supports 258being shown positioned about the plurality of nested plant covers 12 inFIGS. 10-10B. The plurality of nested plant covers 12 are thencompressed along at least one of their width 20, height 22 and length 18with the plurality of nested plant covers 12 being shown compressedalong their width 20 in FIGS. 10-10B. After the plurality of nestedplant covers 12 are compressed, at least one securing assembly 101 e isplaced around the plurality of nested plant covers 12 and the pluralityof supports 258 such that the plurality of nested plant covers 12 areheld in a compressed state. One of ordinary skill in the art wouldappreciate that the at least one securing assembly 101 e could beapplied around the plurality of nested plant covers 12 and the pluralityof supports 258 either prior to or immediately after the plurality ofnested plant covers 12 are compressed along at least one of their width,height and length.

In an alternate embodiment of the presently disclosed and claimedinvention, shown in FIGS. 11-11C is an article packaging system 10 fwhich includes the plurality of nested plant covers 12, a holdingassembly 30 f, a support assembly 259 and a conveyor assembly 174 f. Theholding assembly 30 f includes an outer surface 260, an inner surface261, and an inner retaining space 100 f. The support assembly 259includes an arm member 262 having a hanging assembly 264, an uprightmember 266 and a base 268. The conveyor assembly 174 f includes anactivation assembly 270.

As shown in FIGS. 11-11C, the holding assembly 30 f is a bag-like deviceor member capable of receiving the plurality of nested plant covers 12within the inner retaining space 100 f. The holding assembly 30 f may beconstructed of any material capable of receiving the plurality of nestedplant covers 12 and may be for example, but not be limited to,cellophane, plastic, paper, cloth, synthetic polymers, natural polymers,burlap and combinations thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the holdingassembly 30 f would comprise a shrink-wrap type of material such thatthe holding assembly 30 f can be made to conform to the contours of theplurality of nested plant covers 12 disposed in the inner retainingspace 100 f of the holding assembly 30 f.

As shown in FIG. 11A, the holding assembly 30 f may also include abonding assembly 272 that is capable of substantially closing andholding closed an upper end 274 of the holding assembly 30 f. Thebonding assembly, as used herein, is interchangeable with the term“bonding material.” The term “bonding material” when used herein meansan adhesive, frequently a pressure sensitive adhesive, or a cohesive.When the bonding material is a cohesive, a similar cohesive materialmust be placed on the adjacent surface for bondingly contacting andbondingly engaging with the cohesive material. The term “bondingmaterial” also includes materials which are heat sealable and, in thisinstance, the adjacent portions of the material must be brought intocontact and then heat must be applied to effect the seal. The term“bonding material” also includes materials which are sonic sealable andvibratory sealable. The term “bonding material” when used herein alsomeans a heat sealing lacquer or hot melt material which may be appliedto the material and, in this instance, heat, sound waves, or vibrations,also must be applied to effect the sealing.

The term “bonding material” when used herein also means any type ofmaterial or thing which can be used to effect the bonding or connectingof the two adjacent portions of the material or sheet of material toeffect the connection or bonding described herein. The term “bondingmaterial” may also include ties, labels, bands, ribbons, strings, tapes(including single or double-sided adhesive tapes), staples orcombinations thereof. Some of the bonding materials would secure theends of the material while other bonding material may bind thecircumference of a wrapper, or a sleeve, or, alternatively and/or inaddition, the bonding materials would secure overlapping folds in thematerial and/or sleeve. Another way to secure the wrapping and/or sleeveis to heat seal the ends of the material to another portion of thematerial. One way to do this is to contact the ends with an iron ofsufficient heat to heat seal the material.

Alternatively, a cold seal adhesive may be utilized as the bondingmaterial. The cold seal adhesive adheres only to a similar substrate,acting similarly as a cohesive, and binds only to itself. The cold sealadhesive, since it bonds only to a similar substrate, does not cause aresidue to build up on equipment, thereby both permitting much morerapid disposition and use of such equipment to form articles andreducing labor costs. Further, since no heat is required to effect theseal, the dwell time, that is, the time for the sheet of material toform and retain the shape of an article, such as a flower pot cover orflower pot, is reduced. A cold seal adhesive binds quickly and easilywith minimal pressure, and such a seal is not readily releasable. Thischaracteristic is different from, for example, a pressure sensitiveadhesive.

The term “bonding material” when used herein also means any heat orchemically shrinkable material, and static electrical or otherelectrical materials, chemical welding materials, magnetic materials,mechanical or barb-type fastening materials or clamps, curl-typecharacteristics of the film or materials incorporated in material whichcan cause the material to take on certain shapes, cling films, slots,grooves, shrinkable materials and bands, curl materials, springs, andany type of welding method which may weld portions of the material toitself or to the plurality of nested plant covers 12, or to both thematerial itself and the plurality of nested plant covers 12.

In operation, the plurality of nested plant covers 12 are placed in theinner retaining space 100 f of the holding assembly 30 f in a directionindicated generally by arrow 276. Once the plurality of nested plantcovers 12 are placed in the inner retaining space 100 f, the upper end274 of the holding assembly 30 f is substantially closed by the bondingassembly 272. Thereafter, the holding assembly 30 f is removed from thesupport assembly 259 and placed on the conveyor assembly 174 f. Theconveyor assembly 174 f enters and extends through the activationassembly 270 such that the holding assembly 30 f is moved into andthrough the activation assembly 270. Once in the activation assembly270, the holding assembly 30 f is shrunk so as too substantially conformto the size and shape of the plurality of nested plant covers 12. Theactivation assembly 270 may be an oven wherein the heat generated by theactivation assembly 270 causes the holding assembly 30 f to shrink.Alternatively, the activation assembly 270 may be a device capable ofgenerating microwaves which cause the holding assembly 30 f to shrinkand substantially conform to the size and shape of the plurality ofnested plant covers 12. One of ordinary skill in the art wouldappreciate that the activation assembly 270 may be any device capable ofcausing the holding assembly 30 f to contract and/or shrink so as toosubstantially conform to the size and shape of the plurality of nestedplant covers 12. In a more preferred embodiment, the activation assembly270 would cause the holding assembly 30 f to shrink or compress to suchan extent that the plurality of nested plant covers 12 would be reducedin overall area such that the compressed plurality of nested plantcovers 12 take up less space than an uncompressed and plurality ofnested flower pot covers. Such a compressed plurality of nested plantcovers 12 are shown in FIG. 11C.

A further embodiment of the presently disclosed and claimed invention isshown in FIGS. 12A-12C, as an article packaging system 10 g. The articlepackaging system 10 g includes the plurality of nested plant covers 12,a holding assembly 30 g, a support assembly 259 g, and a securingassembly 101 g. The holding assembly 30 g includes a base member 32 ghaving a plurality of supports 258 g which are arranged in such a mannerso as to provide an inner retaining space 46 g. The support assembly 259g includes an upright member 266 g and a base 268 g. The plurality ofsupports 258 g operably engage the base 268 g such that the may beplaced into the base 268 g, be supported therein and later be removedpartially or completely from the base 268 g.

The securing assembly 101 g includes a spindle 282 and a securingelement 284. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 12A-12C, the securingelement 284 is a web of material that is wound around the spindle 282.Alternatively, the securing element 284 may be wound around a spool (notshown) and the spool is thereafter placed on the spindle 282. The web ofmaterial can be any material such that the securing element 284 iscapable of being wrapped around an object. For example, but not by wayof limitation, the web of material may be cling wrap, polymer wrapand/or any other material capable of reversibly or irreversibly bondingto itself. Alternatively, the web of material may be coated with abonding material as described herein above. Indeed, the web of materialmay include any material previously disclosed herein for use with any ofthe embodiments of the presently disclosed and claimed invention.

In operation, the plurality of nested plant covers 12 are placed in theinner retaining space 46 g that is created by the plurality of supports258 g which are placed into the base 2689 of the support assembly 259 g.The securing element 284 is thereafter wound about the plurality ofsupports 258 g and thereby squeezing the plurality of nested plantcovers 12. The squeezed plurality of nested plant covers 12 occupy spaceor volume less that the space or volume of the uncompressed plurality ofnested plant covers 12. After the securing element 284 is wound aroundthe entirety of the plurality of supports 258 g, the securing element284 is severed or torn along a detachment element 286 which, as shown inFIG. 12B, comprises a series of perforations in the securing element284. Once the securing element 284 has been severed or torn, theplurality of supports 258 g are removed thereby leaving a compressedplurality of nested plant covers 12 occupying substantially less spaceor volume than an uncompressed plurality of nested plant covers 12.

Changes may be made in the construction and operation of the variouscomponents, elements and assemblies described herein or in the steps orsequence of steps of the methods described herein without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the followingclaims.

1. A method for packaging a plurality of nested flower pot covers,comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of nested flower potcovers having a length, a width and a height; providing a holdingassembly having a retaining space, the holding assembly having acompressed and an uncompressed condition; placing the plurality ofnested flower pot covers in the retaining space of the holding assembly;and compressing the holding assembly from the uncompressed to thecompressed condition such that the plurality of nested flower pot coversare compressed along at least one of the length, width and height of theplurality of nested flower pot covers while causing expansion of atleast a portion of each of the plurality of nested flower pot covers inat least one direction other than the direction of compression, therebyproviding a package containing a plurality of compressed nested flowerpot covers.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the holding assembly isselected from the group consisting of bags, boxes, tubes, andcombinations thereof.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising thestep of securing the holding assembly via a means for securing such thatthe plurality of nested flower pot covers are maintained in thecompressed condition.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the securingmeans is selected from the group consisting of telescoping cartons,bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives,staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs and combinations thereof.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the nested flower pot covers in thecompressed condition are compressed to a percentage of the uncompressedcondition selected from the group consisting of from about 5 to about 10percent, from about 10 to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20percent, from about 20 to about 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30percent, from about 30 to about 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40percent, from about 40 to about 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50percent, from about 50 to about 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60percent, from about 60 to about 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70percent, from about 70 to about 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80percent, from about 80 to about 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90percent, from about 90 to about 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99percent.
 6. The method of claim 1 further including means for dispensingat least one of the compressed nested flower pot covers from the packagecontaining the plurality of compressed nested flower pot covers.
 7. Themethod of claim 1 wherein, in the step of providing a holding assembly,the holding assembly is further defined as at least one sheet ofmaterial.
 8. A method for packaging a plurality of flower pot covers,comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of flower pot covershaving a length, a width and a height; providing a holding assemblyhaving a retaining space, the holding assembly having a compressed andan uncompressed condition; placing the plurality of flower pot covers inthe retaining space of the holding assembly; and compressing the holdingassembly from the uncompressed to the compressed condition such that theplurality of flower pot covers are compressed along at least one of thelength, width and height of the plurality of flower pot covers whilecausing expansion of at least a portion of each of the plurality offlower pot covers in at least one direction other than the direction ofcompression, thereby providing a package containing a plurality ofcompressed flower pot covers.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein theholding assembly is selected from the group consisting of bags, boxes,tubes, and combinations thereof.
 10. The method of claim 8 furthercomprising the step of securing the holding assembly via a means forsecuring such that the plurality of flower pot covers are maintained inthe compressed condition.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thesecuring means is selected from the group consisting of telescopingcartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape, adhesive,cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs and combinationsthereof.
 12. The method of claim 8, wherein the flower pot covers in thecompressed condition are compressed to a percentage of the uncompressedcondition selected from the group consisting of from about 5 to about 10percent, from about 10 to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20percent, from about 20 to about 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30percent, from about 30 to about 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40percent, from about 40 to about 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50percent, from about 50 to about 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60percent, from about 60 to about 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70percent, from about 70 to about 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80percent, from about 80 to about 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90percent, from about 90 to about 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99percent.
 13. The method of claim 8 further including means fordispensing at least one of the compressed flower pot covers from thepackage containing the plurality of compressed flower pot covers. 14.The method of claim 8 wherein, in the step of providing a plurality offlower pot covers, the plurality of flower pot covers are nested. 15.The method of claim 8 wherein, in the step of providing a plurality offlower pot covers, the plurality of flower pot covers are unnested. 16.The method of claim 8 wherein, in the step of providing a holdingassembly, the holding assembly is further defined as at least one sheetof material.
 17. A method for packaging a plurality of flower potcovers, comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of flower potcovers having a length, a width and a height; compressing the pluralityof flower pot covers from an uncompressed condition to a compressedcondition such that the plurality of flower pot covers are compressedalong at least one of the length, width and height of the plurality offlower pot covers while causing expansion of at least a portion of eachof the plurality of flower pot covers in at least one direction otherthan the direction of compression; providing a holding assembly having aretaining space; and placing the plurality of flower pot covers in thecompressed condition in the retaining space of the holding assemblythereby providing a package containing a plurality of compressed flowerpot covers.
 18. The method of claim 17, wherein the holding assembly isselected from the group consisting of bags, boxes, tubes, andcombinations thereof.
 19. The method of claim 17 further comprising thestep of securing the holding assembly via a means for securing such thatthe plurality of flower pot covers are maintained in the compressedcondition.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the securing means isselected from the group consisting of telescoping cartons, bags, shrinkwrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires,ribbons, strings, barbs and combinations thereof.
 21. The method ofclaim 17, wherein the flower pot covers in the compressed condition arecompressed to a percentage of the uncompressed condition selected fromthe group consisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 toabout 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 toabout 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 toabout 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 toabout 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 toabout 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 toabout 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 toabout 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 toabout 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.
 22. The methodof claim 17 further including means for dispensing at least one of thecompressed flower pot covers from the package containing the pluralityof compressed flower pot covers.
 23. The method of claim 17 wherein, inthe step of providing a plurality of flower pot covers, the plurality offlower pot covers are nested.
 24. The method of claim 17 wherein, in thestep of providing a plurality of flower pot covers, the plurality offlower pot covers are unnested.
 25. The method of claim 17 wherein, inthe step of providing a holding assembly, the holding assembly isfurther defined as at least one sheet of material.
 26. A method forpackaging a plurality of nested flower pot covers, comprising the stepsof: providing a plurality of nested flower pot covers having a length, awidth and a height; compressing the plurality of nested flower potcovers from an uncompressed condition to a compressed condition suchthat the plurality of nested flower pot covers are compressed along atleast one of the length, width and height of the plurality of nestedflower pot covers while causing expansion of at least a portion of eachof the plurality of nested flower pot covers in at least one directionother than the direction of compression; providing a holding assemblyhaving a retaining space; and placing the plurality of nested flower potcovers in the compressed condition in the retaining space of the holdingassembly thereby providing a package containing a plurality ofcompressed nested flower pot covers.
 27. The method of claim 26, whereinthe holding assembly is selected from the group consisting of bags,boxes, tubes, and combinations thereof.
 28. The method of claim 26further comprising the step of securing the holding assembly via a meansfor securing such that the plurality of nested flower pot covers aremaintained in the compressed condition.
 29. The method of claim 28,wherein the securing means is selected from the group consisting oftelescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape,adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs andcombinations thereof.
 30. The method of claim 26, wherein the nestedflower pot covers in the compressed condition are compressed to apercentage of the uncompressed condition selected from the groupconsisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10 to about15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 to about 25percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 to about 35percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 to about 45percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 to about 55percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 to about 65percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 to about 75percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 to about 85percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 to about 95percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.
 31. The method of claim26 further including means for dispensing at least one of the compressednested flower pot covers from the package containing the plurality ofcompressed nested flower pot covers.
 32. The method of claim 26 wherein,in the step of providing a holding assembly, the holding assembly isfurther defined as at least one sheet of material.
 33. A method forpackaging a plurality of flower pot covers comprising the steps of:providing a plurality of flower pot covers having a length, a width anda height; compressing the plurality of flower pot covers from anuncompressed condition to a compressed condition such that the pluralityof flower pot covers are compressed along at least one of the length,width and height of the plurality of flower pot covers while causingexpansion of at least a portion of each of the plurality of flower potcovers in at least one direction other than the direction ofcompression; and securing the flower pot covers in the compressedcondition thereby providing a package containing a plurality ofcompressed flower pot covers.
 34. The method of claim 33 furthercomprising the step of placing the package containing a plurality ofcompressed flower pot covers in a holding assembly, wherein the holdingassembly is selected from the group consisting of bags, boxes, tubes,and combinations thereof.
 35. The method of claim 34 wherein the holdingassembly is secured via a means for securing such that the plurality offlower pot covers are maintained in the compressed condition.
 36. Themethod of claim 35, wherein the securing means is selected from thegroup consisting of telescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretchwrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons,strings, barbs and combinations thereof.
 37. The method of claim 33,wherein the flower pot covers in the compressed condition are compressedto a percentage of the uncompressed condition selected from the groupconsisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10 to about15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 to about 25percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 to about 35percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 to about 45percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 to about 55percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 to about 65percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 to about 75percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 to about 85percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 to about 95percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.
 38. The method of claim33 further including means for dispensing at least one of the compressedflower pot covers from the package containing the plurality ofcompressed flower pot covers.
 39. The method of claim 33 wherein, in thestep of providing a plurality of flower pot covers, the plurality offlower pot covers are nested.
 40. The method of claim 33 wherein, in thestep of providing a plurality of flower pot covers, the plurality offlower pot covers are unnested.
 41. The method of claim 33 wherein, inthe step of providing a holding assembly, the holding assembly isfurther defined as at least one sheet of material.
 42. A method forpackaging a plurality of nested flower pot covers comprising the stepsof: providing a plurality of nested flower pot covers having a length, awidth and a height; compressing the plurality of nested flower potcovers from an uncompressed condition to a compressed condition suchthat the plurality of nested flower pot covers are compressed along atleast one of the length, width and height of the plurality of nestedflower pot covers while causing expansion of at least a portion of eachof the plurality of nested flower pot covers in at least one directionother than the direction of compression; securing the nested flower potcovers in the compressed condition; providing a holding assembly havinga retaining space; and placing the nested flower pot covers in thesecured compressed condition in the retaining space of the holdingassembly thereby providing a package containing a plurality ofcompressed nested flower pot covers.
 43. The method of claim 42, whereinthe holding assembly is selected from the group consisting of bags,boxes, tubes, and combinations thereof.
 44. The method of claim 42wherein in the step of securing the holding assembly, the holdingassembly is secured via a means for securing such that the plurality ofnested flower pot covers are maintained in the compressed condition. 45.The method of claim 44, wherein the securing means is selected from thegroup consisting of telescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretchwrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons,strings, barbs and combinations thereof.
 46. The method of claim 42,wherein the nested flower pot covers in the compressed condition arecompressed to a percentage of the uncompressed condition selected fromthe group consisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 toabout 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 toabout 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 toabout 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 toabout 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 toabout 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 toabout 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 toabout 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 toabout 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.
 47. The methodof claim 42 further including means for dispensing at least one of thecompressed nested flower pot covers from the package containing theplurality of compressed nested flower pot covers.
 48. The method ofclaim 42 wherein, in the step of providing a holding assembly, theholding assembly is further defined as at least one sheet of material.49. A method for packaging a plurality of nested flower pot covers,comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of nested flower potcovers having a length, a width and a height; providing a means forcompressing and securing the plurality of nested flower pot covers,wherein the plurality of nested flower pot covers are compressed alongat least one of the length, the width and the height while causingexpansion of at least a portion of each of the plurality of nestedflower pot covers in at least one direction other than the direction ofcompression; and compressing and securing the plurality of nested flowerpot covers in a single step utilizing the compressing and securing meansthereby providing a package containing a plurality of compressed nestedflower pot covers.
 50. The method of claim 49 further comprising thestep of placing the package containing a plurality of compressed nestedflower pot covers in a holding assembly, wherein the holding assembly isselected from the group consisting of bags, boxes, tubes, andcombinations thereof.
 51. The method of claim 50 wherein the holdingassembly is secured via a means for securing such that the plurality ofnested flower pot covers are maintained in the compressed condition. 52.The method of claim 51, wherein the securing means is selected from thegroup consisting of telescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretchwrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons,strings, barbs and combinations thereof.
 53. The method of claim 49,wherein the nested flower pot covers in the compressed condition arecompressed to a percentage of the uncompressed condition selected fromthe group consisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 toabout 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 toabout 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 toabout 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 toabout 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 toabout 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 toabout 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 toabout 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 toabout 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.
 54. The methodof claim 49 further including means for dispensing at least one of thecompressed nested flower pot covers from the package containing theplurality of compressed nested flower pot covers.
 55. The method ofclaim 49 wherein, in the step of providing a holding assembly, theholding assembly is further defined as at least one sheet of material.56. A method for packaging a plurality of nested flower pot covers,comprising the steps of: providing a plurality of nested flower potcovers having a length, a width and a height; providing a compressingassembly capable of compressing the plurality of nested flower potcovers along at least one of the length, the width and the height whilecausing expansion of at least a portion of each of the plurality ofnested flower pot covers in at least one direction other than thedirection of compression; placing the compressing assembly about theplurality of nested flower pot covers; activating the compressingassembly such that the plurality of nested flower pot covers arecompressed by the compressing assembly from an uncompressed condition toa compressed condition; and securing the compressed plurality of nestedflower pot covers in the compressed condition thereby providing apackage containing a plurality of compressed nested flower pot covers.57. The method of claim 56 further comprising the step of placing thepackage containing a plurality of compressed nested flower pot covers ina holding assembly, wherein the holding assembly is selected from thegroup consisting of bags, boxes, tubes, and combinations thereof. 58.The method of claim 57 wherein the holding assembly is secured via ameans for securing such that the plurality of nested flower pot coversare maintained in the compressed condition.
 59. The method of claim 58,wherein the securing means is selected from the group consisting oftelescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretch wrap, bands, tape,adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons, strings, barbs andcombinations thereof.
 60. The method of claim 56, wherein the nestedflower pot covers in the compressed condition are compressed to apercentage of the uncompressed condition selected from the groupconsisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10 to about15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 to about 25percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 to about 35percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 to about 45percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 to about 55percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 to about 65percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 to about 75percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 to about 85percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 to about 95percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.
 61. The method of claim56 further including means for dispensing at least one of the compressednested flower pot covers from the package containing the plurality ofcompressed nested flower pot covers.
 62. The method of claim 56 wherein,in the step of providing a holding assembly, the holding assembly isfurther defined as at least one sheet of material.
 63. A method forpackaging a plurality of nested flower pot covers, comprising the stepsof: providing a plurality of nested flower pot covers having a length, awidth and a height; providing a holding assembly, the holding assemblyhaving a retaining space that has at least one of a length, a width anda height that is less than the at least one of the length, the width andthe height of the plurality nested flower pot covers; and placing theplurality of nested flower pot covers into the retaining space of theholding assembly and thereby compressing the plurality of nested flowerpot covers from an uncompressed condition to a compressed conditionalong at least one of the length, the width and the height of the nestedflower pot covers while causing expansion of at least a portion of eachof the plurality of nested flower pot covers in at least one directionother than the direction of compression, thereby providing a packagecontaining a plurality of compressed nested flower pot covers.
 64. Themethod of claim 63, wherein the holding assembly is selected from thegroup consisting of bags, boxes, tubes, and combinations thereof. 65.The method of claim 63 further comprising the step of securing theholding assembly via a means for securing such that the plurality ofnested flower pot covers are maintained in the compressed condition. 66.The method of claim 65, wherein the securing means is selected from thegroup consisting of telescoping cartons, bags, shrink wrap, stretchwrap, bands, tape, adhesive, cohesives, staples, wires, ribbons,strings, barbs and combinations thereof.
 67. The method of claim 63,wherein the nested flower pot covers in the compressed condition arecompressed to a percentage of the uncompressed condition selected fromthe group consisting of from about 5 to about 10 percent, from about 10to about 15 percent, from about 15 to about 20 percent, from about 20 toabout 25 percent, from about 25 to about 30 percent, from about 30 toabout 35 percent, from about 35 to about 40 percent, from about 40 toabout 45 percent, from about 45 to about 50 percent, from about 50 toabout 55 percent, from about 55 to about 60 percent, from about 60 toabout 65 percent, from about 65 to about 70 percent, from about 70 toabout 75 percent, from about 75 to about 80 percent, from about 80 toabout 85 percent, from about 85 to about 90 percent, from about 90 toabout 95 percent and from about 95 to about 99 percent.
 68. The methodof claim 63 further including means for dispensing at least one of thecompressed nested flower pot covers from the package containing theplurality of compressed nested flower pot covers.
 69. The method ofclaim 63 wherein, in the step of providing a holding assembly, theholding assembly is further defined as at least one sheet of material.